Capturing images from a video card using a change detection algorithm

Abstract

A method whereby a presenter may capture images directly from a graphics control circuitry during a presentation without the need for actions, such as mouse clicks, which would interfere with the presenter's ability to present information to an audience. The method automatically captures images using a change detection algorithm and stores those images in digital form for future use. The presenter or user of the method may make adjustments to the parameters, via a control interface, used by the algorithm to determine when to capture and store a static image from the graphics control circuitry.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for capturing and storing images from a computing device comprising:
 a computing device comprising a processor, a storage system, and graphics control circuitry;   at least one computer display monitor that is associated with and in electronic communication with said computing device for display of information contained in the graphics control circuitry; and   an image capture device in electronic communication with said computing device which monitors a stream of images communicated from the computing device to a computer display monitor in electronic communication with the computer device and stores one or more individual images upon the satisfaction of predetermined capture conditions before each storage.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said capture conditions comprise a change to the monitored images which exceeds a predetermined amount.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said capture conditions further comprise, after said initial change, the monitored images remaining predominantly unchanged for a period of time.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said capture conditions further comprise a predetermined period of time that elapses between each image storage.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an audio recording device connected to and in electronic communication with said computing device where an audio recording may be captured simultaneously with said storage of one or more images.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein:
 said audio recording device further comprising the capability of recording a stream of video images is connected to and in electronic communication with said computing device where a video recording is captured simultaneously with said storage of one or more images.   
     
     
         7 . A method of automatically capturing and storing images, comprising the steps of:
 monitoring a stream of images present in the graphics control circuitry of the system of  claim 1 ; and   capturing and storing an image from said stream of images when a predetermined amount of change is detected in the image being monitored.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein:
 said image is captured from the portion of said graphics control circuitry associated with a computer display monitor connected to the computing device where said computer display monitor is selectable from among computer display monitors connected to said graphics control circuitry.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein:
 said amount of change required before said image is captured is variable.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of:
 waiting for an image to remain predominantly unchanged for a period of time before said image is captured and stored.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 said amount of time that an image remains predominantly unchanged prior to capture is variable.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of:
 waiting for a predetermined period of time to elapse after capturing and storing of an image before the start of the capture and storage process for an additional image.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein:
 said amount of time elapsing before the start of the next capture and storage steps is variable.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of:
 displaying a user interface on a computer display monitor associated with and in electronic communication with said system, which includes a representation of the last image captured and stored.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of:
 displaying, in said user interface, variables which are adjustable to vary the parameters of said image capture method.   
     
     
         16 . A method comprising the steps of:
 capturing and storing images from the graphics control circuitry of the system of  claim 1  when the following conditions are present:   an image has changed by a user selectable amount;   a user selectable period of time has passed since the last image was captured; and   the image is not currently undergoing a substantial change.   
     
     
         17 . A method of comprising the steps of:
 capturing and storing images from the graphics control circuitry of the system of  claim 5 ;   simultaneously capturing audio recordings from the audio recording device of  claim 5 ; and   storing the images and audio recordings in a manner that permits the stored images to be displayed in synchronization with a replay of the audio recordings.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the steps of:
 simultaneously capturing video recordings from the recording device of  claim 6 ; and   storing said images and video recordings to be stored in a storage device in such a manner that they may be replayed such that said stored images are displayed in synchronization with replay of the video recordings.